The document provides guidance on creating an accessible school library website. It discusses determining website purpose and content, design considerations, legal requirements, and maintenance. Key points include selecting a target audience, including general library information as well as school and community events, ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities, and keeping the site up-to-date. Resources are provided on website design, creation, and ADA compliance. Maintaining a quality website requires planning content and layout while meeting legal standards.

1. School Library
Websites
Outline based on:
Technology for the School Librarian
Theory and Practice
William O. Scheeren
Sharon Smith
April 2013

2. Questions and Suggestions
Questions Suggestions
Do we need a web site? Check other LMS in area
to see if they have one.
How do we design it? Research how to sites, google,
etc.
What do we need for content? Put information related to your
library, staff, and students.
What do we use for material? Content material has to
captivate your followers
Who is our target demographics? Select your target group and
provide material to that group.

3. The Creation of a Website
YouTube is a great choice for finding
helpful tips and how to videos.
Surprisingly easy

4. designing of the web page
Graphics
Information
Content
Layout
Animation

5. Errors, Mistakes, and
Oh-No’s
• Do not use complicated URL’s
• Avoid using too much animation
• Stay away from scrolling pages
• Keep your website simple
(many of your visitors may not
have the latest technology at their
disposal.)

6. Obey all website LAWS
Most, if not all, law’s pertain to Copyrights.

7. What to put on your Website
• General information
• Community events
• School events
• Library information
• School Calendar
• Club happenings
• Reference resources
• Assistance to references
• Book sources
• Web links
• Access to public library
• University access

8. •
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9. Running and Maintaining
Intranets
• task more than not falls on the Library
Media Specialist.
• useful tool for the school district
• great way for the whole staff to stay up-
to-speed on the latest and the best ways
to do their jobs more productively

10. Glossary of Terms
• Web Pages -- individual design pages placed on a
website
• Web Design -- the method of how your website is
put together
• URL -- Uniform Resource Locator
• Navigation Bar -- tool used to put short cuts and
most used tools on ?????
• Visual Consideration -- never use all capital
letters, insure links are in prose, break up your
content

11. • Practical Considerations -- never use more than three
images per page, neither clash nor blend together
background and text, use light background colors
• Orphan Pages -- pages that do not contain any
identifying information
• Scrolling Pages -- pages that are to long with to much
text
• Resources -- different sites and or sources used to
complete the task
• Copyrights -- exclusive legal right given to an
originator or an assignee to
print, publish, perform, film, etc.

12. D
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Q
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School Website Policy
Website Accessibility as governed by the American Disabilities Act (ADA)
It is the responsibility of the School System to ensure that any and all websites maintained by the school and any school
employees meets the guidelines set forth under the American Disabilities Act (ADA).
Checklist:
• Every image, video file, audio file, plug-in, etc. has an alt tag
• Complex graphics are accompanied by detailed text descriptions
• The alt descriptions describe the purpose of the objects
• If an image is also used as a link, make sure the alt tag describes the graphic and the link destination
• Decorative graphics with no other function have empty alt descriptions (alt= “”)
• Add captions to videos
• Add audio descriptions
• Create text transcript
• Create a link to the video rather than embedding it into web pages
• Add a link to the media player download
• Add an additional link to the text transcript
• The page should provide alternative links to the Image Map
• The <area> tags must contain an alt attribute
• Data tables have the column and row headers appropriately identified (using the <th> tag)
• Tables used strictly for layout purposes do NOT have header rows or columns
• Table cells are associated with the appropriate headers
• Make sure the page does not contain repeatedly flashing images
• Check to make sure the page does not contain a strobe effect
• A link is provided to a disability-accessible page where the plug-in can be downloaded
• All Java applets, scripts and plug-ins and the content within them are
accessible to assistive technologies, or else an alternative means of accessing equivalent content is provided
• When form controls are text input fields use the LABEL element
• When text is not available use the title attribute
• Include any special instructions within field labels
• Make sure that form fields are in a logical tab order
• Include a „Skip Navigation‟ button to help those using text readers
(Courtesy U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
If the site meets all these criteria, it is likely accessible to people with disabilities.

13. D
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Q
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WEBSITES CAN BE OF
GOOD QUALITY
http://internet4classrooms.com/
* easy to find what you’re looking for
* content is good
* graphics aid in location of information
* has a clear purpose and fulfills that
purpose
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/
* inviting graphics
* useful information
* easy navigation
* keyword friendly
http://livebinders.com
* variety of useful information
* categories divided clearly
* exceptional search feature
* strong organization
* consistent design
WEBSITES CAN BE OF
POOR QUALITY
http://goodrichjumps.com/index.html
* can’t tell where they are located
* no indication of what their service
area is
* text does not make sense to the
traffic they were trying to attract
http://www.ready.gov/kids
* tiny font and small icons used on
subpages
* many links lead to broken or missing
websites
* too much of the same color on the
landing page
http://www.creativekidscenter.net/
* no navigation after the landing page
* no depiction of any children on the page
* poorly placed ‘federal law’ and copyright
guidelines

14. Summary
Questions to answer when creating a website
 For what purpose do I need a website?
 How should I lay it out?
 Which design framework should I use?
What things do I need on my website?
 What are the laws governing my website?
 What target groups am I trying to reach?
Once the website is created, it must be kept up-to-
date with the most current information possible.

15. Resources
Heng, C., & thesitewizard.com. (n.d.). How to Make / Create Your Own Website:
The Beginner's A-Z Guide to Starting a Website (thesitewizard.com).
thesitewizard.com: Website design, promotion, CGI, PHP, JavaScript
scripting, and revenue earning.. Retrieved April 7, 2013, from
http://www.thesitewizard.com/gettingstarted/startwebsite.shtml.
How To Make a Website -EASY! - YouTube. (n.d.). YouTube. Retrieved April 7,
2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLKui1x1JFk
Nash, N. B. (n.d.). Creating an ADA-compliant website | TechRepublic. TechRepublic - A
Resource for IT Professionals. Retrieved April 30, 2013, from
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/webmaster/creating-an-ada-compliant
website/1425
Scheeren, W. O. (2010). Technology for the school librarian: theory and practice.
Santa Barbara, Calif.: Libraries Unlimited.
Weebly - Create a free website and a free blog. (n.d.). Weebly - Create a free
website and a free blog. Retrieved April 7, 2013, from
http://www.weebly.com.